Methods of improving athletic performance with inorganic nitrate compositions

ABSTRACT

A method for improving athletic or physical performance in a human includes administering to the human a composition or supplement formulation including a single administration of inorganic nitrate (NO 3   − ), a single administration of inorganic nitrite (NO 2   − ), or a combination thereof; and an additive. A method for increasing endurance in a human includes administering to the human a composition or supplement formulation including a single administration of inorganic nitrate (NO 3   − ), a single administration of inorganic nitrite (NO 2   − ), or a combination thereof; and an additive.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Ronald Kramer, et. al. entitled “Amino Acid Compositions,” application Ser. No. 14/065,368, filed Oct. 28, 2013, now pending, which is a continuation application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Ronald Kramer, et. al. entitled “Amino Acid Compositions,” application Ser. No. 13/920,081, filed Jun. 17, 2013, now pending, which is a continuation application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Ronald Kramer, et. al. entitled “Amino Acid Compositions,” application Ser. No. 13/038,615, filed Mar. 2, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,466,187, which is a continuation-in-part application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Ronald Kramer, et. al. entitled “Formulations,” application Ser. No. 12/336,938, filed Dec. 17, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,836, which is a continuation application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Ronald Kramer, et. al. entitled “Formulations,” application Ser. No. 11/950,273, filed Dec. 4, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,777,074, which application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/973,229 entitled “Formulations” to Ronald Kramer, et. al., filed on Sep. 18, 2007, the disclosures of all of which being hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Aspects of this document relate generally to methods of improving athletic performance by administering inorganic nitrate and/or inorganic nitrite compositions or supplement formulations.

Background

Certain amino acids are used in the dietary supplement industry. While such amino acids may supplement nutrition, they typically do not provide other benefits, such as increasing vasodilation, increasing oxygen flow to the muscles, enhancing blood circulation, furthering nutrient distribution, boosting Human Growth Hormone (HGH) production, improving physical performance, increasing endurance, speeding recovery from injury and boosting NO⁻ production, among other uses. For example, these conventional Amino Acids are typically expensive due to the manner in which they are made, may be slow-acting, may be poorly water-soluble, and may either have no vasodilating properties, or vasodilating properties that manifest only through the administration of undesirably large doses and after lengthy metabolic processes.

It is desirable to identify new methods of improving athletic performance with compositions and supplement formulations that overcome the properties lacking in conventional amino acids, conventional nitrates, and conventional nitrites.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method for improving athletic performance in a human or animal comprising administering an effective amount of a composition or a supplement formulation consisting essentially of a single administration of inorganic nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), a single administration of inorganic nitrite (NO₂ ⁻), or a combination thereof; and an additive is disclosed.

The additive may be a carrier, an excipient, a binder, a colorant, a flavoring agent, a preservative, a buffer, a dilutant, and/or combinations thereof.

The composition or supplement formulation may be in the form of a capsule, a cachet, a pill, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a pellet, a bead, a particle, a troche, a lozenge, a gel, a liquid, a suspension, a solution, an elixir, or a syrup.

In another aspect, a method for improving physical performance in a human or animal comprising administering an effective amount of a composition or a supplement formulation consisting essentially of a single administration of inorganic nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), a single administration of inorganic nitrite (NO₂ ⁻), or a combination thereof; and an additive is disclosed.

In yet another aspect, a method for increasing endurance in a human or animal comprising administering an effective amount of a composition or a supplement formulation consisting essentially of a single administration of inorganic nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), a single administration of inorganic nitrite (NO₂ ⁻), or a combination thereof; and an additive is disclosed.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.

DESCRIPTION Overview, Terminology and Definitions

In describing various implementations, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions and explanations set out below. Notwithstanding, other terminology, definitions, and explanations may be found throughout this document, as well.

As used herein, “Composition” is a term used in its broadest sense and may refer to a mixture of constituent substances or ingredients. “Mixture” is a term used in its broadest sense and may refer to two or more constituent substances or ingredients (chemical species present in a system), which have been combined (not necessarily in fixed proportions and not necessarily with chemical bonding and not necessarily so that each substance retains its own chemical identity). Mixtures can be the product of a blending or mixing of chemical substances like elements and compounds, without chemical bonding or other chemical change, so that each ingredient substance retains its own chemical properties and makeup. Mixtures can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. A homogeneous mixture is a type of mixture in which the composition is uniform. A heterogeneous mixture is a type of mixture in which the composition can easily be identified, as there are two or more phases present. A homogeneous mixture in which there is both a solute and solvent present is also a solution.

A “Compound” is a term used in its broadest sense and may refer to a chemical substance comprising two or more different chemically bonded chemical constituent elements or ingredients, with a fixed ratio or proportion by weight. The atoms within a compound can be held together by a variety of interactions, ranging from covalent bonds to electrostatic forces in ionic bonds. The physical and chemical properties of compounds are different from those of their constituent elements. This is one of the main criteria for distinguishing a compound from a mixture of elements or other substances because a mixture's properties are generally closely related to and dependent on the properties of its constituents. However, some mixtures are so intimately combined that they have some properties similar to compounds. Another criterion for distinguishing a compound from a mixture is that the constituents of a mixture can usually be separated by simple, mechanical means such as filtering, evaporation, or use of a magnetic force, but the components of a compound can only be separated by a chemical reaction. Conversely, mixtures can be created by mechanical means alone, but a compound can only be created (either from elements or from other compounds, or a combination of the two) by a chemical reaction.

As used herein, “Nitrate” is a term used in its broadest sense and may refer to an Nitrate in its many different chemical forms including a salt of Nitric Acid, a single administration Nitrate, its physiologically active salts or esters, its combinations with its various salts, its tautomeric, polymeric and/or isomeric forms, its analog forms, and/or its derivative forms. Nitrate comprises, by way of non-limiting example, many different chemical forms including dinitrate and trinitrate. Nitrates may be salts, or mixed salts, of Nitric Acid (HNO₃) and comprise one Nitrogen atom and three Oxygen atoms (NO₃). For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, Nitrate may comprise salts of Nitrate such as sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, barium nitrate, calcium nitrate, and the like. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, Nitrate may include mixed salts of Nitrate such as nitrate orotate, and the like. Furthermore, for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, natural sources of nitrates are appropriate sources of nitrates, such as juice, extract, powder and the like of Cabbage, Spinach, Beetroot, Artichoke, Asparagus, Broad Bean, Eggplant, Garlic, Onion, Green Bean, Mushroom, Pea, Pepper, Potato, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Watermelon, Broccoli, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Chicory, Dill, Turnip, Savoy Cabbage, Celeriac, Chinese Cabbage, Endive, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Parsley, Celery, Cress, Chervil, Lettuce, Rocket (Rucola), and the like.

As used herein, “Nitrite” is a term used in its broadest sense and may refer to an Nitrite in its many different chemical forms including a salt of Nitrous Acid, a single administration Nitrite, its physiologically active salts or esters, its combinations with its various salts, its tautomeric, polymeric and/or isomeric forms, its analog forms, and its derivative forms. Nitrite comprises, by way of non-limiting example, many different chemical forms including dinitrite and trinitrite. Nitrites may be salts, or mixed salts, of Nitrous Acid (HNO₂) and comprise one Nitrogen atom and two Oxygen atoms (NO₂). For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, Nitrite may comprise salts of Nitrite such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, barium nitrite, calcium nitrite, and the like. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, Nitrite may comprise mixed salts of Nitrite such as nitrite orotate, and the like. Furthermore, for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, natural sources of Nitrites are appropriate sources of Nitrites, such as juice, extract, powder and the like of Cabbage, Spinach, Beetroot, Artichoke, Asparagus, Broad Bean, Eggplant, Garlic, Onion, Green Bean, Mushroom, Pea, Pepper, Potato, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Watermelon, Broccoli, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Chicory, Dill, Turnip, Savoy Cabbage, Celeriac, Chinese Cabbage, Endive, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Parsley, Celery, Cress, Chervil, Lettuce, Rocket (Rucola), and the like.

Nitrates and Nitrites are commercially available in various preparations, including natural preparations, and are used in various applications. In the case of ingestion by humans, Nitrate (NO₃) is typically reduced to Nitrite (NO₂) in the epithelial cells of blood vessels. In vivo, Nitrite (NO₂) reacts with a thiol donor, principally glutathione, to yield Nitric Oxide (NO).

As used herein, “acceptable additive” or “additive” are terms used in their broadest sense. Particular implementations of the compositions described in this document may also comprise an additive (e.g. one of a solubilizer, an enzyme inhibiting agent, an anticoagulant, an antifoaming agent, an antioxidant, a coloring agent, a coolant, a cryoprotectant, a hydrogen bonding agent, a flavoring agent, a plasticizer, a preservative, a sweetener, a thickener, and combinations thereof) and/or a carrier (e.g. one of an excipient, a lubricant, a binder, a disintegrator, a diluent, an extender, a solvent, a suspending agent, a dissolution aid, an isotonization agent, a buffering agent, a soothing agent, an amphipathic lipid delivery system, and combinations thereof). These additives may be solids or liquids, and the type of additive may be generally chosen based on the type of administration being used. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to readily select suitable pharmaceutically effective additives from the disclosure in this document. In particular implementations, acceptable additives may include, by non-limiting example, calcium phosphate, cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmelose cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide.

As used in this document, “effective” is a phrase used in its broadest sense, including, by non-limiting example, effective in a clinical trial, for a specific patient, or only placebo-effective.

As used in this document, “acceptable” is a phrase used in its broadest sense and may describe ingredients of a composition that meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, United States Pharmacopeial Standards (USP), US Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for food-grade materials, commonly accepted standards of the nutritional supplement industry, industry standards, botanical standards, or standards established by any individual. These standards may delineate acceptable ranges of aspects of ingredients of a composition such as edibility, toxicity, pharmacological effect, or any other aspect of a chemical, composition, or preparation used in implementations of a composition.

Administration and Dosage Forms

Compounds, Compositions and/or formulations may be administered in any form, including one of a capsule, a cachet, a pill, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a pellet, a bead, a particle, a troche, a lozenge, a pastille, a solution, an elixir, a syrup, a tincture, a suspension, an emulsion, a mouthwash, a spray, a drop, an ointment, a cream, a gel, a paste, a transdermal patch, a suppository, a pessary, cream, a foam, and combinations thereof for example.

Implementations of Compositions may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form. Unit dosage formulations may be those containing a daily dose or unit, a daily sub-dose, or an appropriate fraction thereof, of the administered components as described herein.

A dosage unit may include a Composition. In addition, a dosage unit may include a Composition admixed with an additive(s), and/or any combination thereof.

The dosage units may be in a form suitable for administration by standard routes. In general, the dosage units may be administered, by non-limiting example, by the topical (including buccal and sublingual), transdermal, oral, rectal, ophthalmic (including intravitreal or intracameral), nasal, vaginal, and/or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, intratracheal, and epidural) routes and many other delivery methods and/or systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Implementations of an Formulation or Composition may also be administered through use of amphipathic lipid delivery systems (such as liposomes and unilamellar vesicles). Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily be able to select additional pharmaceutically acceptable additives to enable delivery of implementations of a pharmaceutical composition from the disclosure in this document.

For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, oral delivery may be a particularly advantageous delivery route for administration to humans and animals of implementations of a pharmaceutical composition, optionally formulated with appropriate pharmaceutically acceptable additives to facilitate administration.

Manufacture

Implementations of Compositions or Formulations may be synthesized or created in a wide variety of manners, and may be made from a wide variety of materials. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily be able to select appropriate materials and methods to manufacture and use the compounds and compositions disclosed herein.

Accordingly, although there are a variety of method implementations for producing pharmaceutical compositions, for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, a method implementation for producing a Composition or Formulation may comprise: measuring specific quantities of additive and Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or any other polar, easily evaporated solvent such as methanol, alcohol, pyridine, and the like mixed in a specific order the measured quantities of additive and Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and then separating the pharmaceutical composition into discrete quantities for distribution and/or administration.

Measuring specific quantities of additive and Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent may involve any number of steps and implementing components, and measuring specific quantities of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and inert ingredients, may be accomplished readily from this disclosure. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, measuring specific quantities of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and inert ingredients, may comprise using a scale, a solid or liquid dispensing apparatus, or other measurement device capable of measuring solid mass or liquid volume to produce a desired quantity of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent.

It should be appreciated that any of the components of particular implementations of a Composition or Formulation may be used as supplied commercially, or may be preprocessed by, by non-limiting example, any of the methods and techniques of agglomeration, air suspension chilling, air suspension drying, balling, coacervation, comminution, compression, pelletization, cryopelletization, extrusion, granulation, homogenization, inclusion Compoundation, lyophilization, melting, mixed, molding, pan coating, solvent dehydration, sonication, spheronization, spray chilling, spray congealing, spray drying, or other processes known in the art depending in part on the dosage form desired. The various components may also be pre-coated or encapsulated as known in the art. It will also be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that appropriate additives may also be introduced to the composition or during the processes to facilitate the preparation of the dosage forms, depending on the need of the individual process.

Mixing the measured quantities of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and inert ingredients for Compounds, or mixing the measured quantities of additive, Nitrate and/or Nitrite sources, and inert ingredients for Compositions, may involve any number of steps and implementing components, and may be accomplished readily from this disclosure.

For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, mixing the measured quantities of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and inert ingredients, may comprise combining the measured quantities of additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent, and inert ingredients, under the influence of physical, ultrasonic, or electrostatic forces to create a desired degree of intermingling and/or chemical reaction of the additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent. The mixed may be accomplished when the additive, Nitric or Nitrous Acid and water or solvent are in a solid, liquid, or semisolid state.

Separating the Formulation or Composition into discrete quantities for distribution may involve any number of steps and implementing components, and separating the Formulation or Composition into discrete quantities for distribution may be accomplished readily from this disclosure. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, separating the Formulation or Composition into discrete quantities for distribution may involve utilizing a specific piece of equipment, for example, a conventional tablet forming apparatus to shape the formed composition into individual tablets, each containing a desired dose of Formulation or Composition. The separating process may be accomplished when the Formulation or Composition is in a solid, liquid, or semisolid state.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to readily select manufacturing equipment and additives or inert ingredients to manufacture implementations of a Formulation or Composition. For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, some examples of additives or inert ingredients and manufacturing process are included below, particularly those that relate to manufacture of implementations of Formulation or Composition in tablet form. Notwithstanding the specific examples given, it will be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate how to manufacture implementations of a Formulation or Composition according to the other methods of administration and delivery disclosed in this document.

Accordingly, Formulations and Compositions may include an additive (e.g. one of a solubilizer, an enzyme inhibiting agent, an anticoagulant, an antifoaming agent, an antioxidant, a coloring agent, a coolant, a cryoprotectant, a hydrogen bonding agent, a flavoring agent, a plasticizer, a preservative, a sweetener, a thickener, and combinations thereof) and/or a acceptable carrier (e.g. one of an excipient, a lubricant, a binder, a disintegrator, a diluent, an extender, a solvent, a suspending agent, a dissolution aid, an isotonization agent, a buffering agent, a soothing agent, an amphipathic lipid delivery system, and combinations thereof).

For example, a particular implementation of a Formulation or Composition may include a lubricant. Lubricants are any anti-sticking agents, glidants, flow promoters, and the like materials that perform a number of functions in tablet manufacture, for example, such as improving the rate of flow of the tablet granulation, preventing adhesion of the tablet material to the surface of the dies and punches, reducing interparticle friction, and facilitating the ejection of the tablets from the die cavity. Lubricants may comprise, for example, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, talc, and colloidal silica.

Particular implementations of a Formulation or Composition may also include a binder. Binders are any agents used to impart cohesive qualities to powdered material through particle-particle bonding. Binders may include, for example, matrix binders (e.g. dry starch, dry sugars), film binders (e.g. celluloses, bentonite, sucrose), and chemical binders (e.g. polymeric cellulose derivatives, such as methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, and hydroxy propyl cellulose); and other sugar, gelatin, non-cellulosic binders and the like.

Disintegrators may be used in particular implementations of a Formulation or Composition to facilitate the breakup or disintegration of tablets after administration. Disintegrators may include, for example, starch, starch derivatives, clays (e.g. bentonite), algins, gums (e.g. guar gum), cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g. methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose), croscarmellose sodium, croscarmellose cellulose, and other organic and inorganic materials.

Implementations of a Formulation or Composition may include diluents, or any inert substances added to increase the bulk of the Formulation or Composition to make a tablet a practical size for compression. Diluents may include, for example, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, lactose, mannitol, magnesium stearate, potassium chloride, and citric acid, among other organic and inorganic materials.

Buffering agents may be included in a Formulation or Composition and may be any one of an acid and a base, where the acid is, for example, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, or toluenesulfonic acid, and the base is, for example, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and other organic and inorganic chemicals.

With respect to delivery of particular implementations of a Formulation or Composition, for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, tablets may be utilized. Tablets are any solid pharmaceutical dosage form containing a pharmaceutically acceptable active agent or agents to be administered with or without suitable pharmaceutically acceptable additives and prepared either by compression or molding methods well known in the art. Tablets have been in widespread use and remain popular as a dosage form because of the advantages afforded both to the manufacturer (e.g., simplicity and economy of preparation, stability, and convenience in packaging, shipping, and dispensing) and the patient (e.g., accuracy of dosage, compactness, portability, blandness of taste, and ease of administration). Although tablets are most frequently discoid in shape, they may also be round, oval, oblong, cylindrical, rectangular or triangular, for example. The tablets may be optionally scored so that they may be separated into different dosages. They may differ greatly in size and weight depending on the amount of the pharmaceutically acceptable active agent or agents present and the intended route of administration. They are divided into two general classes, (1) compressed tablets, and (2) molded tablets.

Tablets and other orally discrete dosage forms, such as capsules, cachets, pills, granules, pellets, beads, and particles, for example, may optionally be coated with one or more enteric coatings, seal coatings, film coatings, barrier coatings, compress coatings, fast disintegrating coatings, or enzyme degradable coatings for example. Multiple coatings may be applied for desired performance. Further, dosage forms may be designed for, by non-limiting example, immediate release, pulsatile release, controlled release, extended release, delayed release, targeted release, synchronized release, or targeted delayed release. For release/absorption control, carriers may be made of various component types and levels or thicknesses of coats. Such diverse carriers may be blended in a dosage form to achieve a desired performance. In addition, the dosage form release profile may be effected by a polymeric matrix composition, a coated matrix composition, a multi-particulate composition, a coated multi-particulate composition, an ion-exchange resin-based composition, an osmosis-based composition, or a biodegradable polymeric composition.

While manufacture of implementations of a Formulation and Composition have been described in particular sequences of steps and/or in particular forms, it will be understood that such manufacture is not limited to the specific order of steps or forms as disclosed. Any steps or sequences of steps of manufacture of implementations of a Formulation and Composition in any form are given as examples of possible steps or sequences of steps or potential forms and not as limitations, since many possible manufacturing processes and sequences of steps may be used to manufacture Formulation and Composition implementations in a wide variety of forms.

Use

Implementations of a Formulation or Composition are particularly useful in increasing bioabsorption and vasodilation in humans and animals. However, implementations are not limited to uses relating to bioabsorption or vasodilation modification, and the like. Rather, any description relating to the foregoing is for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure. It will be understood that implementations of a Formulation or Composition may encompass a variety of uses and are not limited in their uses. For example, possible uses may be, by non-limiting example, prevention of Nitrate tolerance, enhanced water solubility, increased distribution to muscles, increased athletic performance, and/or countering Nitric Oxide inhibiting effects of certain Amino Acids.

In conventional preparations of Nitrate compounds, “tolerance,” a particular side effect, has been observed in many patients. This is unfortunate because the effectiveness of Nitrate on vasodilation is well documented. “Tolerance” occurs when a subject's reaction to Nitrate decreases so that larger doses are required to achieve the same effect. A Mar. 3, 2000 report in the British Journal of Pharmacology indicates that “tolerance to the dilator effects of nitrates remains a persisting therapeutic problem.” Raymond J. MacAllister “Arginine and Nitrate Tolerance” available at http://www.nature.com/bjp/journal/v130/n2/full/0703340a.html, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Empirical studies indicate that Nitrates are useful for their vasolidating effects. Common Nitrates include nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate. Nitrates exert their vasodilating effect through their reduction to Nitrites. In vivo, Nitrates are reduced to Nitrites and, in the blood vessels' epithelial cells, Nitrite reacts with a thiol donor (mainly glutathione) to yield Nitric Oxide. Louis J. Ignarro, “After 130 years, the Molecular Mechanism of Action of Nitroglycerin is Revealed” (Jun. 11, 2002) available at http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/99/12/7816?ck=nck, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The Nitric Oxide inhibiting characteristics of the Amino Acid Glutamine have been well documented in a number of studies. In particular, a Mar. 28, 2006 report in the American Journal of Physiology has found that Glutamine inhibits Nitric Oxide production by downregulation of eNOS synthase. Masao Kakoki, et al. “Amino acids as Modulators of Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide.” available at http://ajprenal.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/291/2/F297, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Empirical studies indicate that the Amino Acid Norvaline inhibits the enzyme arginase and thus decreases the rate of conversion of the Amino Acid Arginine to urea. Takeyori Saheki, et al. “Regulation of Urea Synthesis in Rat Liver” available at http://jb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/3/745?ijkey=5d134456b7443ca36c80926946 2276e532549798&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Today, nitric oxide and pre-workout nitric oxide performance enhancing formulas have grown in popularity. Nitric oxide formulas are used to increase muscular “pumps,” vasodilation, and nutrient transport to the muscle to assist in greater aerobic performance and recovery. However, most formulas utilize the amino acid L-arginine, a precursor to nitric oxide, as their base. Recently, L-arginine has been proven to be ineffective for elevating nitric oxide levels. L-arginine has also been proven ineffective at enhancing athletic performance (9,10,11). Yet L-arginine is present in nearly every single nitric oxide formula on the market. Contrary to popular belief, most of the “pump” feeling experienced by trainees is derived from an insulin increase following L-arginine supplementation (1).

As recent clinical research confirms, the reduction of inorganic nitrate (NO3−) and nitrite (NO2−) in vivo results in nitric oxide production. Not only does nitrate generate nitric oxide, but nitrate and nitrite are inert end-products of nitric oxide oxidation. That is, nitrate converts into nitric oxide, and once oxidized, nitric oxide is recycled back into nitrate, which then has the potential to convert into nitric oxide once again. And the cycle continues to repeat itself. This creates an exciting alternative to nitric oxide production, and carries profound implications for the bodybuilding community.

A critical problem with nitric oxide is the short lifespan it has in the body. In just a few seconds, the nitric oxide molecule can be metabolized, and the athlete loses any benefit he/she may have received. A pump however must be sustained for several minutes, if not hours, in order to result in those biochemical conditions required to stimulate muscle hypertrophy. And nitrates are capable of elevating nitric oxide production for up to 8 hours.

Thus the use of nitrates represents an important alternative to the classical L-arginine-NO-synthase pathway (2) so commonly attempted in various sports supplement formulations.

The efficacy of nitrates in athletic performance is overwhelming in the clinical research. Nitrate consumption significantly enhances nitric oxide production, resulting in vasodilation, improved nutrient absorption, increased athletic performance (3), and improved energetic function in working muscles during exercise (12). For example, during low and moderate intensity exercise by humans, supplementation with nitrates has been reported to reduce the amount of oxygen required. During high intensity athletic exercise, nitrate supplementation enhances tolerance to high intensity training, effectively extending the “time to exhaustion”(4).

For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has used nitrates to induce direct and rapid vasodilation. And today, clinical research is proving that nitrates may produce beneficial effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular health (8). In fact, a recent clinical study investigated the effects of 5 times the amount of nitrates (1,316 mg per day for a 70 kg adult) currently recommended by the World Health Organization (259 mg per day for a 70 kg adult) and showed no adverse health or safety effects. The study results revealed an average reduction in diastolic blood pressure by 4.5 mmHg. Effects on systolic blood pressure were not observed (14,15).

Nitrates themselves offer many benefits to athletes. As demonstrated by Anjali Pradhan and Juan Vera, “Effect of Anions on the Solubility of Zwitterionic Amino Acids”, Journal of Chemical and Engineering data, Vol 45, 140-143 (2000) (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference), the co-existence of the nitrate ion can enhance the solubility of various amino acids by 300-400%. Although the change in solubility is significantly lower than that of the case of a salt with a nitrate, it is enough to make a difference in absorption in-vivo.

Furthermore, the nitrate ion enhances absorption of compounds by the intestine. Nitrates increase bioavailability by: increasing intestinal absorption of nutrients; and increasing vasodilation and blood flow and blood is the carrier of the nutrients to cells. See for example, the following references, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: Takahashi K et al. “Characterization of the influence of nitric oxide donors on intestinal absorption of macromolecules.” Int J Pharm 2004; 286:89-97; Fetih G et al. “Nitric oxide donors can enhance the intestinal transport and absorption of insulin and [Asu(1,7)]-eel calcitonin in rats.” J Control Release 2005; 106:287-97; Fetih G et al. “Excellent absorption enhancing characteristics of NO donors for improving the intestinal absorption of poorly absorbable compound compared with conventional absorption enhancers.” Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2006; 21:222-9; and Mitchell, G. E., Little, C. O., Jr. & Greathouse, T. R. (1964). “Influence of nitrate and nitrite, on carotene disappearance from the rat intestine.” Life Sci. 4, 385.

Also, the nitrate ion can cause vasodilatation after reduction to nitrite and then nitric oxide, improve blood circulation, to the muscles and thus distribution of these compounds to the muscle, as well as oxygen distribution to the muscles. Muscle oxygen is needed to provide energy which is needed for all muscle anabolic actions to take place as well as for the active transport of above nutrients via the cell membrane. See the following references which are hereby incorporated herein by reference—Bailey, Stephen G. et al., “Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the 02 cost of low-intensity exercise and enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise in humans”, PresS. J Appl Physiol (Aug. 6, 2009) and Bailey, Stephen G. et al., “Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances muscle contractile efficiency during knee-extensor exercise in humans”, J Appl Physiol 109:135-148, 2010).

In these same references it is also very well described nitrate's positive effect on athletic endurance and muscle strength. Oxygen is needed by the body to produce energy which by itself is needed for all the metabolic processes in the body, including those that Compositions of the present disclosure are involved in. Thus co-administration of nitrate ion with Compositions of the present disclosure furthermore increases their distribution to the muscle and their effectiveness.

Therefore, not only does the nitrate salt in a Composition or Formulation improve their bioavailability, absorption and effectiveness, but also the co-administration of nitrate through another nitrate salt, acid or a natural source of nitrate in a Composition of the present disclosure shall have similar effects, albeit lower than in the case of nitrate bonded with the molecule.

Therefore, inorganic nitrate or inorganic nitrite administration in a Composition or Formulation can improve mental focus, cognitive function, athletic and muscle performance, endurance, and strength.

REFERENCES

The following references are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

-   1. Glucose- and arginine-induced insulin secretion by human     pancreatic B-cells: the role of HERG K+channels in firing and     release -   2. Does NO metabolism play a role in the effects of vegetables in     health? Nitric oxide formation via the reduction of nitrites and     nitrates. Dina Ralt * Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health     Policy Research, Tel Hashomer, Israel -   3. Larsen F J, Weitzberg E, Lundberg J O, Ekblom B. Effects of     dietary nitrate on oxygen cost during exercise. Acta Physiol (Oxf).     2007 September; 191(1):59-66. Epub 2007 Jul. 17. -   4. Stephen J. Bailey,1 Paul Winyard,2 Anni Vanhatalo,1 Jamie R.     Blackwell,1 Fred J. DiMenna,1 Daryl P. Wilkerson,1 Joanna Tarr,2     Nigel Benjamin,2 and Andrew M. Jones). Dietary nitrate     supplementation reduces the 02 cost of low-intensity exercise and     enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise in humans. 1School of     Sport and Health Sciences and; 2Peninsula College of Medicine and     Dentistry, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom -   5. Fetih G, Habib F, Katsumi H, Okada N, Fujita T, Attia M,     Yamamoto A. Excellent absorption enhancing characteristics of NO     donors for improving the intestinal absorption of poorly absorbable     compound compared with conventional absorption enhancers. -   6. Koichi Takahashia,* , Nanako Numataa, Natsumi Kinoshitaa, Naoki     Utoguchib, Tadanori Mayumic, Nobuyasu Mizunoa. Characterization of     the influence of nitric oxide donors on intestinal absorption of     macromolecules. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 286 (2004)     89-97 -   7. Fetih G, Habib F, Okada N, Fujita T, Attia M, Yamamoto A. Nitric     oxide donors can enhance the intestinal transport and absorption of     insulin and [Asu(1,7)]-eel calcitonin in rats. -   8. Supatra Porasuphatanaa, Pei Tsaib, Gerald M. Rosenb. The     generation of free radicals by nitric oxide synthase. Comparative     Biochemistry and Physiology Part C 134 (2003) 281-289     1532-0456/03/$—see front matter_2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All     rights reserved. PII: S1532-0456Ž02.00271-5 Review. -   9. Olek R A et al. A single oral intake of arginine does not affect     performance during repeated Wingate anaerobic test. J Sports Med     Phys Fitness. 2010 March; 50(1):52-6. -   10. Liu T H, Wu C L, Chiang C W, Lo Y W, Tseng H F, Chang C K. No     effect of shortterm arginine supplementation on nitric oxide     production, metabolism and performance in intermittent exercise in     athletes. J Nutr Biochem. 2008 Aug. 15. [Epub ahead of print] -   11. Bescos R, Gonzalez-Haro C, Pujol P, Drobnic F, Alonso E,     Santolaria M L, Ruiz O, Esteve M, Galilea P. Effects of dietary     L-arginine intake on cardiorespiratory and metabolic adaptation in     athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2009 August; 19(4):355-65. -   12. Larsen F J, Weitzberg E, Lundberg J O, Ekblom B. Dietary nitrate     reduces maximal oxygen consumption while maintaining work     performance in maximal exercise. Free Radic Biol Med. 2010 Jan. 15;     48(2):342-7. Epub 2009 Nov. 12. -   13. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,     doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27131 -   14. Tanja Sobko, Claude Marcus, Mirco Govoni, Shigeru Kamiya.     “Dietary nitrate in Japanese traditional foods lowers diastolic     blood pressure in healthy volunteers.” Nitric Oxide Volume 22, Issue     2, Pages 136-140 -   15.     http://www.foodnavigator.com/Product-Categories/Preservativesand-acidulants/Dietary-nitrates-maybe-beneficial-for-heart-health-Study/?utm_source=Newsletter_Product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter     %2BProduct 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for improving athletic performance in a human, the method comprising orally administering to the human a composition or supplement formulation comprising: i) a salt of nitric acid selected from the group consisting of: barium nitrate and amino acid nitrate, wherein the amino acid nitrate is salt of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: agmatine, beta alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, citrulline, creatine, glutamine, norvaline, ornithine, and phenylalanine; and ii) an additive selected from the group consisting of a carrier, an excipient, a binder, a colorant, a flavoring agent, a preservative, a buffer, a dilutant, an antioxidant, and a combination thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises an antioxidant.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition or supplement formulation consists essentially of: i) the salt of nitric acid; and ii) the additive.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the composition or supplement formulation consists essentially of the salt of nitric acid and an antioxidant.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is in the form of a capsule, a cachet, a pill, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a pellet, a bead, a particle, a troche, a lozenge, a gel, a liquid, a suspension, a solution, an elixir, or a syrup.
 6. A method for improving physical performance in a human, the method comprising orally administering to the human a composition or supplement formulation comprising: i) a salt of nitric acid selected from the group consisting of: barium nitrate and amino acid nitrate, wherein the amino acid nitrate is salt of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: agmatine, beta alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, citrulline, creatine, glutamine, norvaline, ornithine, and phenylalanine; and ii) an additive selected from the group consisting of a carrier, an excipient, a binder, a colorant, a flavoring agent, a preservative, a buffer, a dilutant, an antioxidant, and a combination thereof.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive comprises an antioxidant.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the composition or supplement formulation consists essentially of: i) the salt of nitric acid selected from the group consisting of: barium nitrate and amino acid nitrate, wherein the amino acid nitrate is salt of an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: agmatine, beta alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, citrulline, creatine, glutamine, norvaline, ornithine, and phenylalanine; and ii) the additive.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the composition or supplement formulation consists essentially of the salt of nitric acid and the antioxidant.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is in the form of a capsule, a cachet, a pill, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a pellet, a bead, a particle, a troche, a lozenge, a gel, a liquid, a suspension, a solution, an elixir, or a syrup.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is the carrier.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is the excipient.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is the binder.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is the colorant.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive is the flavoring agent.
 16. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive is the carrier.
 17. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive is the excipient.
 18. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive is the binder.
 19. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive is the colorant.
 20. The method of claim 6, wherein the additive is the flavoring agent.
 21. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a pill.
 22. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a tablet.
 23. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a capsule.
 24. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a powder.
 25. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a liquid.
 26. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a pill.
 27. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a tablet.
 28. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a capsule.
 29. The method of claim 10, wherein the composition or supplement formulation is a powder.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition or supplement formulation comprises an effective amount of the salt of nitric acid sufficient to improve athletic performance in a human.
 31. The method of claim 6, wherein the composition or supplement formulation comprises an effective amount of the salt of nitric acid sufficient to improve physical performance in a human.
 32. The method of claim 3, wherein the salt of nitric acid is in an effective amount sufficient to improve athletic performance in a human.
 33. The method of claim 8, wherein the salt of nitric acid is in an effective amount sufficient to improve physical performance in a human.
 34. The method of claim 1, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 35. The method of claim 6, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 36. The method of claim 3, wherein the salt of nitric acid is barium nitrate.
 37. The method of claim 3, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 38. The method of claim 8, wherein the salt of nitric acid is barium nitrate.
 39. The method of claim 8, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 40. The method of claim 32, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 41. The method of claim 33, wherein the salt of nitric acid is barium nitrate.
 42. The method of claim 33, wherein the salt of nitric acid is an amino acid nitrate.
 43. The method of claim 1, wherein the amino acid nitrate is the salt of L-histidine.
 44. The method of claim 1, wherein the amino acid nitrate is the salt of phenylbeta-alanine.
 45. The method of claim 6, wherein the amino acid nitrate is the salt of L-histidine.
 46. The method of claim 6, wherein the amino acid nitrate is the salt of phenylbeta-alanine. 